A maximum of 10 opponents could try to end Camelot’s quest for the English
Triple Crown in Saturday’s Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster, the world’s oldest
classic.
Two of them, however, are his stablemates from the Ballydoyle yard. Group 1
Grand Prix de Paris hero Imperial Monarch could be likelier for Sunday’s
Group 2 Prix Niel at Longchamp. Chamonix just ran Monday, when he romped in the Oyster Stakes at
Galway, and would be wheeling back quickly.
Two others seek to avenge their defeat by Camelot in the Group 1 Epsom Derby
on June 2 — runner-up Main Sequence and fourth-placer Thought Worthy. Both are
exiting the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York, where Thought Worthy controlled the
modest pace and held on from the rallying Main Sequence.
“He’s been fine since York where he showed he’s a very game horse,” the trainer
Gosden pointed to the colt’s marked similarities with full brother Lucarno,
“Thought Worthy’s brother Lucarno was also fourth in the Derby and won the Great
“We are taking on a very fine horse in Camelot and naturally all the focus has
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Gosden will send out two others — Michelangelo and his pacemaker Dartford.
“Michelangelo is fine and has done nothing wrong in his four races. He was third
in the (Group 3) Gordon Stakes at Goodwood which is not everybody’s track.
“He was staying on well at the end of that race and so did Arctic Cosmos before
winning the St Leger two years ago.
“Dartford is a pacemaker for Michelangelo,” Gosden forthrightly said. “The one
thing we do not want is a stop-start race. He is running to ensure a decent
regular pace.”
Dartford’s presence could benefit Main Sequence, whose trainer David Lanigan
was unhappy with the way the Great Voltigeur unfolded.
“Main Sequence worked on Saturday and everything went fine,” Lanigan said. “He
will have his final piece of work on Wednesday.
“He will also be left in the Prix Niel, but the plan is to go for the St Leger.
“I think the Great Voltigeur was a farce, to put it politely! It was run at a
hack canter and the time was six seconds slower than any other race run that
day. Basically, it turned into a sprint and Main Sequence is not a sprinter, it
was very difficult for him.
“Hopefully, there will be plenty of pace in the St Leger, I know John Gosden is
planning to run a pacemaker and it will be a true run race which is what we
want.
“Ted Durcan will ride again.”
Godolphin’s Encke, who missed by a whisker in the Gordon, was most recently
third to Thought Worthy and Main Sequence in the Great Voltigeur.
“Everything is fine with Encke, and I think that he will head to Doncaster in
the same form as when he ran at York,” trainer Mahmood al Zarooni remarked.
“This will be the biggest test of his career and we still don’t know how good he
really is. He has never been in a Group 1 contest before, but I think that he
will run a good race — he is a tough horse who always gives everything.
“The distance will be fine for him and he seems to cope with most types of
ground. We can dream of beating Camelot but anything can happen in this game and
our horse deserves to take his chance.”
The connections of Great Voltigeur fifth Thomas Chippendale are also
envisioning a turnaround. Two starts back, the Sir Henry Cecil pupil had beaten
Thought Worthy in the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot.
“Thomas Chippendale has been confirmed for the St Leger,” said Barry Simpson,
racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.
“He is in good form and has been working well since he ran at York. We are
looking forward to a good run from him.
“From our point of view, the Great Voltigeur was a bit of a wasted race as there
was no pace and the time was very slow.
“I am not suggesting he would have won, but I think you can put a line through
the race as a Leger trial for our horse. It certainly didn’t suit us and maybe
one or two of the other runners as well.
“As a Yorkshireman, I know the St Leger is a race Sir Robert would dearly love
to win.”
The progressive handicapper Guarantee, a commanding winner over 14 furlongs
at York last out, takes a substantial class hike for trainer William Haggas.
“William reports Guarantee to be in great form,” said Harry Herbert, racing
manager for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s Authorized syndicate. “His
latest piece of work was on Friday and he worked well.
“Since York, he has been eating up, bucking and kicking. It is encouraging to
know that the horse is clearly thriving and hopefully he is still improving too.
“Obviously, it is a massive leap from winning a 0-105 handicap to taking on
classic horses in the St Leger, but this will be his last race of the season and
we have nothing to lose.
“I would be delighted if we could be in the unsaddling enclosure with a horse in
the first four on Saturday. Hopefully, he can do himself justice. Phillip Makin,
who knows him so well, rides once again.
“Fingers crossed, we will get there in one piece. It will be great to see
Camelot run but hopefully we can spoil the party! We have seen upsets in the St
Leger, including Shergar, but for us it is just so exciting to just have a
contender.
“Anything can happen with horses stepping up in trip, but at least we know our
horse has proven stamina, as he won over a mile and six furlongs at York last
time.
“Guarantee was a 50,000 guineas breeze-up horse and for the shareholders to have
a runner in classic with a real shout is amazing.
“He will be our fourth runner in the St Leger. Our previous three runners all
ran well, with Highest faring best when runner-up in 2002.”
Another who rose from the handicap ranks is the Irish-based Ursa Major, who
comes off a victory in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial in his stakes debut. The
Thomas Carmody trainee has the option of staying home for the Group 1 Irish St
Leger, also on Saturday.
“Ursa Major has been left in the St Leger and the Irish St Leger,” said Tim
Jones, racing manager to owner Andrew Tinkler, “and the decision about where to
run will be taken later in the week once we have seen the entries.
“He has improved with every run and we hope there is further improvement in him.
It is typical of his breeding that he has improved as time has gone on.
“We are now throwing him in at the deep end on Saturday.”
The going at Doncaster remained good to firm, good in places, as of Monday.
“We finished the weekend’s watering cycle this morning, with an average of 20
millimeters applied to the track,” Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin reported.
“The forecast is for a few showers in the early hours of tomorrow which should
yield around two to three millimeters. Tomorrow and Wednesday are forecast to be
overcast and there is a chance of some light showers.
“From Thursday onwards, conditions are predicted to become drier and brighter.”
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